Raymond Beausejour at The World's Smallest Art Gallery*

Photographs by Raymond Beausejour are on exhibit in The World’s Smallest Art Gallery* through July 1, 2014.



I’ll make you a bet. When you visit The World’s Smallest Art Gallery and see Raymond Beausejour’s National-Geographic-worthy travel photos you will smell bread baking and hear Edith Piaf singing. Your heart will be moved and you will call your travel agent to book a flight to Paris.
Ray is French Canadian and use to teach French. He says, “I feel more at home in France than anywhere else in the world. In my next life I’m going to be born in France. I love the French obsession with beauty and the preservation of beauty. They don’t tend to knock things down the way we do. They have a wonderful sense of place and pride of place.”
While not all of Ray’s photos were taken in France, they all glow with this “wonderful sense of place and pride of place.”

Ray reports that his mother told him, “I picked up a fork in my left hand and a toy camera in my right and that I’ve been taking photos ever since.” He started doing it professionally in the 1970’s and continues to work in his studio in North Providence.

In the early 1990’s Ray spent a year in California getting a Master’s degree at The Institute in Culture and Creation Spirituality. Ray speaks movingly of the power of this program. Founded by Mathew Fox, one premise was that creativity brings us closer to God. I think most artists would agree with this whether they are formally religious or not. I invite you to keep this thought in mind while viewing Ray Beausejour’s photos.
 

John Kotula
Curator
The World’s Smallest Art Gallery

* The World’s Smallest Art Gallery is:
• A kiosk on the South County Bike Path (http://southcountybikepath.org/). It is located in Peace Dale where the bike path crosses Route 108. The kiosk is a beautifully designed and built structure that has two display cases. Each measures 42” X 41” x 2”. The cases are weatherproof and have sturdy locks.
• A joint project of Hera Gallery (http://heragallery.org/) and Peace Dale Neighborhood Revitalization, Inc. (http://www.peacedale.net/).
• A place to show your artwork. Hera Gallery will be managing the kiosk as a place for artists to display their work. You may have a six-week, one-person show in the kiosk on a first come, first serve basis. Work is not juried, but must be “family friendly.” Artists are asked to choose work that does not depict nudity, sexuality or violence. Neither Hera Gallery nor PDNRI will insure the work. Artists display work at their own risk.
• A way of having your work seen by a lot of people. The bike path has very heavy traffic, especially during the Spring, Summer and early Fall. Many bikers, runners and walkers pass by every hour. There will not be sales from the Kiosk, but your display can include your contact information. Hera Gallery will publicize The World’s Smallest Gallery on its website, blog, and Constant Contact mailings. A Facebook page will be developed.
• A way to beautify the community. The stretch of the bike path where the kiosk is located contains other artwork including murals, sculpture, mosaics, and landscape architecture. The World’s Smallest Art Gallery will add to the beautification of this area.

John Kotula is the coordinator of this project for Hera Gallery. If you are interested in showing your artwork on the bike path contact John at johnkotulapchn@yahoo.com to get more details and to schedule a show.

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